Copy Certificates

How do I order copies of birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificates?

If the event took place in the Dudley Borough you can apply to us for a copy certificate. If this is not the case, you will need to contact the relevant register office. To do this visit the General Register Office website for England and Wales via the links at the bottom of this page, and then type the town or postcode into the search facility on the site.

How do I apply for copy certificates in Dudley?

The fastest and most cost effective way to make an application for copy certificates is to apply and pay online . This is available 24/7 and avoids waiting in any queues. You can add any helpful information to your application so that we are sure to produce the correct certificate for you. If we do not think we have the correct registration in our records we will contact you and arrange a speedy refund.

If you are unable to apply on line you can visit Dudley Council Plus, 259 Castle St, Dudley, West Midlands DY1 1LQ to apply in person (payment can only be accepted on a debit or credit card, Dudley Council Plus cannot take cash payments) or alternatively you can post your application to us at Dudley Register Office, Priory Hall, Priory Park, Dudley DY1 4EU. You will need to include a cheque as payment for the copy certificates if you apply by post, otherwise we will not be able to process your application. Cheques should be made payable to Dudley MBC

If you use the online application form, please note the payment reference number in case you have to contact us about your payment.

Fees and Services2Standard service - 2nd Class Post

£10.00 statutory fee for each certificate (unless within one month of registration)

Applications will be processed within two working days, however please allow up to 5 working days for family history certificates. Certificates are sent by second class post. Please note that no liability will be accepted by Dudley MBC for non-delivered items. You may choose to collect your certificates from Dudley Register Office, please indicate this on your application form and allow sufficient time for the application to be received and processed before collection. Please note, if 'collect' service is requested, the certificate will be held for 28 days, after which it will be posted out to the applicant's address by 2nd class post.

It costs £10.00 for a short or full copy of a birth certificate. Short copies of birth certificates are not suitable in all application processes, such as passports, and it may be more appropriate to order a full (standard) copy. A short birth certificate shows the names, date and district of birth; a full (standard) birth certificate shows all of the information recorded in the registration including parent's details.

Premium service – 1st Class 'recorded signed for'

£10.00 statutory fee for each certificate (unless within one month of registration) +£5.50 recorded delivery, inclusive of insurance = £15.50

This service offers greater peace of mind. Applications will be processed within two working days, however please allow up to 5 days for family history certificates. (Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays are not classed as working days). Certificate packages provide proof of delivery by Royal Mail and will need to be signed for at the point of delivery. Packages will be insured against loss in transit up to the value of £46.00.

Priority Service (UK only) – Same day service

£10.00 statutory fee for each certificate (unless within one month of registration) + £32.00 (per item) expedited service charge and can be collected or posted 1st class 'recorded signed for' = £42.00. (You can order multiple copies of the same certificate, at their appropriate cost each, with just a one off £32.00 priority charge; if you are ordering different certificates e.g. birth certificates for different people, you will pay the appropriate cost for each, plus £32.00 priority charge per each different certificate.)

For persons who need a certificate urgently. Same working day collection, or 1st class delivery if the application is received by 3.00pm. Certificate will need to be signed for at the point of delivery. Packages will be insured against loss in transit. Please note that the £42.00 fee is the same whether certificates are posted out or collected in person

Where can I get a certificate if I was adopted?

The General Register Office for England and Wales holds the adopted children's register. Please visit their website if you require further information. If you have been legally adopted through a court, the adoption certificate is the document required for all official purposes.

Data Protection Statement

We will use the data you provide for the sole purpose of this application. Your personal details will be retained for a maximum of two years and will not be passed to other parties or used for any other purposes.

Useful Links

We have also included links to the General Register Office in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, should you wish to find out further information about your family history.

The centres below provide free public access to a complete set of the GRO Indexes in microfiche format. As well as the Birth, Marriage and Death indexes for the whole of England and Wales, indexes are available for recent events, the Adopted Children's Register, Civil Partnerships and events which have been registered overseas.

A full set of the indexes, can be found at:

Birmingham Central Library

Bridgend Reference and Information Library

City of Westminster Archives Centre

Manchester City Library

Plymouth Central Library

The British Library

The London Metropolitan Archives

It should be noted that it is not possible to obtain a certificate at any of the locations listed above although some offices may provide internet access to the GRO online ordering service.